Back on October 2nd Mitt
Romney began talking about stemming the budget crisis and the
resulting fiscal cliff by reducing income tax
deductions to a flat $17,000.

Ironically, when Mr. Romney presented the idea it was ridiculed
by President Obama as window dressing to a “sketchy
deal.”

However, chatter in the nation’s capital suggests Democrats now
see it as an important element of a potential deficit reduction
agreement.

The change of tone comes as Democrats
returned to Washington after the election and were immediately
confronted by incendiary rhetoric from President Obama in which
he insisted that Bush-era tax cuts end permanently for people
making over $250,000.Read More: "Obstinate President On
Crash Course?"

Worried that the economy is too fragile to raise anyone’s taxes,
John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of
the House offered to compromise in other areas if the President
backed down from the tax increase.